quality rang true in my journey toward self-love. i lost 20 lb., worked out regularly, & started the #dressinhappiness project. you can find out more about this project here.

quality rang true in my work life. for so long, i was afraid to take that jump because of fear & an overwhelming amount of student debt. in 2014, i made the leap with arms wide open!

quality rang true in my marriage. luke & i shared our hearts openly & unguarded. we attended counseling sessions together & grew even more connected as partners. it makes me weepy when i reflect on 2014 & all of the growth that happened in that space & time.

quality rang true in my friendships. i stayed connected with friends from the past & cultivated deep friendship within our community. i co-led a women's retreat within our church community & created a weekly coffee date for my lady tribe. i am so thankful for the opportunity to share my life with women of quality who inspire & motivate me.

pursuit, noun: the action of following or pursuing someone or something.

my heart is set on the pursuit of a healthy balance in my work & family life.

i will focus on the pursuit of a clear path in my work life. i will say no so that i may say yes to work that fills me up, inspires others & cultivates joy within my life.

i will focus on the pursuit of saying yes to more time well-spent by saying no to material goods that rob us of our freedom to enjoy life. friends, i am getting off of that consume-more-work-more treadmill!

i believe that our lives are made up of well-crafted & intentional everydays.

how will you make every single day count?

choose one little word & follow me along on this journey, friends!

---

i am so thankful for debi dean who makes incredible jewelry that speaks truth! i am so excited to wear my "pursuit" bracelet as a daily reminder of my intention for 2015.

debi dean makes bracelets & necklaces with custom stamped words - the perfect gift for you in the new year!

debi is offering a $40 gift certificate to her shop so that you may pick out any piece & wear your word throughout the year!

65 comments:

My one word is "live". All my life I have struggled and just floated through. Did what I could to survive. I guess my word for all these years was survive. But I don't want to survive anymore. I want to live!

My word for 2015 is intentional. I want to be more intentional in the things I do, the time I spend doing them and be more present in everything. Email address is kristin215@msn.com. So glad you shared! Love your word for both 2014 and 2015 :)

I've been circling around my word for weeks (create, cultivate, do, act, action, forward, awake, expand, unfold, engage) and haven't quite landed on one that captures all of those sentiments but you may have just pointed me in the right direction with pursue. I'm going to sit on it for 24 hours. Last year's word came easily so I'm trying not to overthink the fact that this year's word is not so simple!

Love love love!! I knew in the back of my mind that people did one word goals for the year, but I kinda stumbled upon it for myself about halfway through the year when I started doing themed monthly goals. It was fantastic, and I am so excited and inspired to hear others words! I will have to check back on these comments in a few days to see more! Right now I am circling around the word consistent. Wearing your word is an amazing idea, thank you! Sarahshepherd963 @ gmail.com

My word well actually words for 2015 is "Plant Seeds". It was something that is strong in my heart. Not literal seeds but seeds of love and kindness in the hearts and lives of others. I plan on doing this by volunteer opportunities at a local homeless shelter, nursing home, and just random acts of kindness.

I love you, this post, and these beautiful pieces of jewelry! My word for this year is quiet. I want to work on quieting my anxious heart and stressed mind so that I can practice more mindfulness. Pick me :) hncaldwell87@gmail.com

My word for 2015 is inspire. I want to surround myself with people who inspire me to greater spiritual depth and to live fully in my my God-given calling as a woman. In turn, I want to inspire others to do the same. hollyray70@gmail.com

My word for 2015 is "now" to remind me to be present in the here and now- to embrace each moment as they come, and to not worry so much about what is to come- because all I'm really promised is now. e-mail: tahani@uw.edu

I haven't chosen a OLW for 2015 yet (I know, I'm pushing it to the limit), but I'm thinking it might be INTEGRITY because I really want to become the same person in every sphere of my life. It's like that song at the end of Mulan: "True to your heart, you must be true to your heart..."

wow, i love her stuff! i think you did awesome with your goal of quality in 2014. wishing you a great 2015 and with your word, pursuit. i don't have a word yet, but i am really thinking of one. i'd love a bracelet as a reminder as well. thank you for the chance! benavides.seis@gmail.com

What a lovely shop she has! I've been thinking hard this week....my word is CREATE. I always have so many fun ideas and things I want to make. In 2015, I'm going to get artsy and make it happen! shabbysweettea@yahoo.com

I'm not sure what my word is for 2015 yet. I've never done that before. But I'm think I might steal Shana's word (from themomedit.com) Badassery. Yeah, I think I'd like 2015 to be my year for badassery.

I love Debi's jewelry. And I followed her on IG. srlmartin912(at)yahoo(dot)com

I so enjoy reading your blog posts! After some thought, I'd like my word for 2015 to be "thankful". I spend to much time worrying and wondering about everything negative and would like to start being more thankful for the positives in my life. I need to start living in the present! Thanks for your inspiring words. You rock :) Hannahmtyler@yahoo.com

I have many words, wishes, hopes for 2015. But most of all, my word has to be "love". Love who I am, love where I am, love my family and friends, and love my flaws. Amazing post, and sweet giveaway. I really loved her arrow necklace. my email is design{dot}andrea{at}yahoo.com

Loving the personalized bracelets with the hidden message! I don't know if I have a word for 2015, but I did have a motto for 2014: "operation use it up." I will probably pick something similar for 2015. Following on Instagram!

The one word idea has always been hard for me, since it is always difficult for me to narrow things down and make a definite decision. so maybe my one word should be 3: "prioritize & persevere" since I have a lifelong struggle with both of those things. I need to become more organized and steady. It's a good thing to think on, the ways I need to improve and grow. Here's to the follow through!love your blog!frameofdust @ hotmail DOT com

i like your word natalie! my word for 2014 was create. my word for 2015 is VALUE. I'm writing about it right now. i love the work debi did on your bracelet. i am following her on IG. thank you for the chance to win! :) and for the code if i don't. :)

p.s. does anyone else read the "i am not a robot" captcha in a robot voice? i do it everytime and it cracks me up!

My 2015 will be create. "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10 - this word and scripture are my ideas of a 2015: creating deeper relationships (both spiritual and physical), creating a family with my husband, focusing on being creative in my hobbies and not focusing on TV/internet time, create a career for myself by studying/taking the GRE. There is so much more I could share. I love your word pursuit and wish you a wonderful new year. amyhuneycutt13@gmail.com

I am constantly inspired by your blog and am grateful to you for sharing your journey. For over a decade I have also had a word of the year so it was cool to see that you have something similar. 2014's mantra word was "Rebuild" and 2015's will be "Cultivate" which seems rich with possibilities. I look forward to reading about more of your awesome adventures both at home and in your community. THANK YOU!

Wow, I love Debi's work! My word for the year sounds hokey, or cliché, but came to me very clearly in November, right after my dad's passing. Love. My husband and I were having a rare lunch alone, and he was saying he's realized since my dad passed that it's all about love. Just love. With five kids and general life craziness, I sometimes forget to do things in love, to just love people as they are, where they're at. So, love it is.

I believe this is such a beautiful and important post. I have struggled with major a health crises over the last 2 years and it has been difficult for me to even fathom that I would make it to 2015. So my word of choice for this year is "gratitude". I will strive to live this year will full intention and understanding and go forwarding gratitude in all things. Gratitude for my family and friendships that have sustained me, gratitude for the doctors and surgeons and nurses that have done amazing work to help me; gratitude for my Father in heaven who still goes me life and a plan and path that I have yet to fully figure out, and most importantly I will journey through this year in gratitude for myself and the things I have not allowed myself to be grateful for that I have accomplished. I will allow myself gratitude, and moreover share it with everyone I meet.

Lovely post! My word for 2015 is "intent"... I want to make choices and decisions based on intent, not "reaction". I want to be intentional about my marriage, raising up a son, and my work.-TessCandlewick Mama

My word would have to be SIMPLE. To focus on living a simple life and learning to say no to things that cause me anxiety and stress and say yes to the important things that bring me joy. By keeping things simple I'm hopeful that I will better see God's presence in my life.amartin31794@gmail.com

hollydcoker@yahoo.com. My word for 2015 is "blessing". I want to slow down and see the blessing that my husband is to me. I want to slow and see the blessing that my job is to me. I want to slow down and see the blessing that my friends and family are to me. I want to be more of a blessing to others than I was in 2014. Looking forward to a great year full of blessings!

hi allits debi dean from debi dean jewelry on etsy, i had some trouble with the free shipping code and had to create a new one.please use NATALIECREATES1 for free shipping through january 18th.thank you all for your kind words, they fill my heart <3www.debidean.comsorry for the mix up!!